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Students’ Allowances (DSAs) in Higher Education

www.studentfi nanceni.co.uk

Students’ Allowances (DSAs) in Higher Education

2017/18Bridging the gap: A guide to the Disabled

nts’ Allowances (DSAs) in Higher Education

ww.studentfi nanceni.co.uk

www.studentfi nanceni.co.uk

Introduction 01Do I Qualify? 04

What Help Can I Get? 10How Do I Apply? 20

How to Find Out More 24Other Useful Contacts 25

Who is this guide for?This guide provides information about the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) for current and prospective students in higher education who normally live in Northern Ireland.

If you live in Scotland, England or Wales the arrangements may be different. You can � nd out more information relevant to where you live at one of these websites:

England – www.direct.gov.uk/student� nanceWales – www.student� nancewales.co.ukScotland – www.saas.gov.uk

This booklet is for guidance only and does not cover all circumstances. It is not a statement of the law.

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What are the DSAs for?

The DSAs help pay for extra costs you may have to incuras a direct result of your disability, mental-health condition (such as depression or anxiety) or speci� c learning difficulty (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia). The allowances can help with the cost of a non-medical helper, items of specialist equipment, travel and other course-related costs.

DSAs can be awarded to students who prove that they have a disability, mental health condition or speci� c learning difficulty which affects their ability to study. They must also be studying:

• Full-time or part-time undergraduate courses (such as degree or HND-level courses) including Open University and other distance-learning courses; or

• Certain full-time or part-time postgraduate courses (for which the entry requirement is at least a � rst degree or equivalent) including Open University and other distance-learning courses.

This guide explains:

• what costs DSAs can help with; • how to apply; • how you get paid; and • who can help you with

your application.

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Do I have to tell my university or college about my disability, mental-health condition or speci�c learning difficulty?

No, but it will help you with your application if you contact the Disability Adviser at your university or college. He or she may be able to advise you and give you more information about the help the university or college can provide. If you are studying part-time and want to apply for DSAs, you will also need to ask your university or college to certify that your rate of study is at least 25% of an equivalent full-time course.

Your Student Finance NI office will keep any information about your disability, mental-health condition or speci�c learning difficulty con�dential, but if you choose not to tell your university or college about your disability, the necessary reasonable adjustments may not be made. You can tell the university’s or college’s Disability Adviser about your disability in complete con�dence, to make sure they get you the support you need.

Without the involvement of a Disability Adviser, the process of getting DSA support might be more difficult. We recommend that the Disability Adviser is sent a copy of your DSA needs assessment report. Your DSA Needs Assessor will only send the Disability Adviser a copy of the report if they have your permission, in writing.

Your Disability Adviser should not normally carry out your DSA needs assessment.

Summary - what this section is about

This section gives some brief information about the rules governing whether you are eligible to receive DSAs. For details about different types of student � nance you should refer to our other publications – details of which can be found on page 24 of this guide.

To be eligible for DSAs you must meet the personal eligibility conditions for receiving student � nance and also must be:

• studying an eligible full-time undergraduate course (including a distance-learning course); or

• studying an eligible part-time undergraduate course (including a distance-learning course); or

• undertaking a taught or research postgraduate course (including a distance-learning course); or

• undertaking an Initial Teacher Training course; and • able to provide evidence that the effects of your disability,

mental-health condition or speci� c learning difficulty will mean that you need to pay extra costs to attend your course.

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You cannot get DSAs if:

• you are an EU student and are eligible only for support with your fees;

• you are a sandwich-course student on a full-year paid placement (but you may still be able to get DSAs if you are doing certain types of unpaid work experience in the public or voluntary sectors);

• you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student and are eligible for a Department of Health, NHS or other health care bursary;

• you are a postgraduate student receiving a bursary or award from a research council;

• you are a postgraduate student who will get the NHS Business Services Authority’s bursary for students on postgraduate social work courses; or

• you are a postgraduate student receiving a bursary or award from your university or college which includes support that is equal to DSAs.

You should contact the provider of your bursary or award for advice on any extra support you may be entitled to because of your disability.

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You cannot have DSAs for more than one course at the same time. Previous study will not affect your eligibility for DSAs, even if you received �nancial support. However, if you received any specialist equipment through the DSAs for a previous course, this will be taken into consideration. There is no age limit on receiving DSAs, and if you are aged 60 or over you may be eligible for them even if you are not eligible for a Maintenance Loan.

Undergraduate and postgraduate NHS students

This guide is not intended for students who will get a health care bursary for their course (this does not include students with a DoH bursary). Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) are available as part of the health care bursary scheme, for which health care service bursary degree and diploma students may be eligible. If you will receive an NHS bursary, or plan to apply for one, you should contact your university or college for details of the support that is available to disabled students under the NHS Bursary Scheme.

In Northern Ireland the Student Finance NI offices will deal with the bursary arrangements on behalf of the Department of Health (DoH). Eligibility for any DSAs will also be assessed by your Student Finance NI office.

If you are a medical or dental student who started your course in 2013, you will become eligible for a DoH bursary in September 2017.

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Open University students From academic year 2017/18 the Education Authority will be responsible for handling DSA applications from Northern Ireland domiciled Open University students. You will need to send your completed form, and any necessary or relevant documents to:

Student Finance NI, Ballee Centre, Ballee Road West, Ballymena BT42 2HS.

Tel: 028 2566 1222 www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

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How do I show that I am eligible?

If you are physically disabled, or have a mental-health condition, you will need to provide up to date medical proof of this, such as a letter from your doctor or specialist.

If you have a speci� c learning difficulty such as dyslexia, you must provide evidence in the form of a ‘diagnostic assessment’ from a psychologist or suitably quali� ed specialist teacher. The diagnostic assessment must be recent i.e. produced after your 16th birthday.

You will have to pay for any tests to establish your eligibility for Disabled Students’ Allowances. If you need a test but cannot afford to pay for it, you may be able to get � nancial help through your university or college’s Financial Contingency Fund.

The table below shows what you need to send us.

For disabilities and medical conditions

A detailed report or letter from your GP or consultant which gives information about your disability and the effect of the disability on your academic performance.

For speci� c learning difficulties

A report, produced after your 16th birthday, from:• a chartered or practitioner psychologist; or • a specialist teacher holding a current

Assessment Practising Certi� cate.

For mental-health conditions

A detailed report or letter from your GP or other quali� ed specialist which gives information about your mental-health condition and the effect of the condition on your academic performance.

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Summary – what this section is about

Disabled Students’ Allowances can help pay the extra costs you may have on your course because of a disability, mental-health condition or speci� c learning difficulty. There is a range of help available and a description of this help is set out on pages 11-18. The DSAs you will receive will depend on a Needs Assessment (see How do I show that I am eligible? – on page 9).

The following help may be available for Undergraduate students with disabilities:

• Specialist equipment allowance

• Non medical helper allowance

• General allowance

•• Travel allowance

Summary – what this section is about

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Undergraduate students

Specialist equipment allowanceWhat is it for? To help you buy equipment you may need

because of your disability, mental-health condition or speci�c learning difficulty. You can also use it to pay for technical support, insurance or extended warranty costs arising from owning that equipment.

How much canI get?

Full-time and part-time students can get up to £5,266 for the whole course.

How much you can get does not depend on your income or that of your family, but it does depend on your needs assessment.

How is it paid? The money will be paid directly to the equipment supplier or into your bank account.

Do I have to pay it back?

No, unless you leave your course early, in which case you may be asked to pay some back. If you receive equipment and then do not commence the course or if you receive equipment after you have left your course you will be required to make a full refund.

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Specialist equipment allowance (continued)Anything else? The rates shown are the maximum you can get.

They are meant to support people with a high level of need, so most people will get less than the maximum.

Your Student Finance NI office can also reimburse costs you have to pay to rent, rather than buy, items of equipment if this is more economical.

If you need more help or advice, you can call your Student Finance NI office or you can speak to the disability adviser at your university or college.

You may be able to get items of specialist equipment recommended in a DSA needs assessment report before the start of your course so that you may use them from the very beginning of your studies. However, you will need to show evidence that you have been accepted on your course.

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Non-medical helper allowanceWhat is it for? To help pay for support workers, such as readers,

sign-language interpreters, note-takers and other non-medical assistants you need to bene�t fully from your course.

How much canI get?

How much you can get does not depend on your income or that of your family, but it does depend on your DSA needs assessment.

The table below shows the maximum amount of help available for this year.

Full-time Up to £20,938 per year.

Part-time A percentage of the full-time rate to a maximum of £15,703 per year depending on how intensive the part-time course is.

How is it paid? The money will either be paid directly to the supplier of the services (for example, your university or college) or into your bank account.

Do I have to pay it back?

No, unless you leave your course early, in which case we may ask you to pay some back.

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Non-medical helper allowance (continued)Anything else? The rates shown are the maximum you can

get. They are meant to support people with a high level of need, so most people will get less than the maximum.

If you need more help or advice, you can call your Student Finance NI office or, you can speak to the disability adviser at your chosen university or college.

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A percentage

General allowanceWhat is it for? To help pay for other disability-related spending.

You can use it to buy items such as print cartridges and Braille paper, or to top up the specialist equipment and non-medical helper allowances or needs assessment, if necessary.

How much canI get?

How much you can get does not depend on your income or that of your family, but it does depend on your needs assessment.

The table below shows the maximum amount of help available for this year.

Full-time Up to £1,759 per year.

Part-time of the full-time rate to a maximum of £1,319 per year depending on how intensive the part-time course is.

How is it paid? The money will either be paid directly to the supplier of the services (for example, your university, college or equipment supplier) or into your bank account.

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General allowance (continued)Do I have to pay it back?

No, unless you leave your course early, in which case we may ask you to pay some back.

Anything else? The rates shown are the maximum you can get. They are meant to support people with a high level of need, so most people will get less than the maximum.

If you need more help or advice, you can call your Student Finance NI office or, you can speak to the disability adviser at your chosen university or college.

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Travel allowanceWhat is it for? To help with any extra travel costs you may

have to pay to attend your university or college because of your disability (for example, if you need to take a taxi because your disability prevents you from taking public transport). You will not be eligible for help with everyday travel costs which any student would expect to pay, and you may have to provide receipts.

How much can I get?

Full-time and part-time students can get reasonable spending on extra travel costs.

How much you can get does not depend on your income or that of your family but does depend on your needs assessment.

How is it paid? Your Student Finance NI office will send you a claim form to complete. On receipt of the completed claim form and receipts to verify costs incurred, the money will be paid direct to the supplier of the services (for example a taxi �rm) or into your bank account.

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Travel allowance (continued)Do I have to pay it back?

No, unless you leave your course early, in which case you may be asked to pay some back.

Anything else? If you need more help or advice, you can call your Student Finance NI office or, you can speak to the disability adviser at your chosen university or college.

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For full-time and part-time postgraduate students There is a single DSA allowance to meet all costs of up to £10,469 a year for both full-time and part-time postgraduate students. You can use this for specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, extra travel costs or other course-related costs. The amount of DSA you receive will depend on the DSA needs assessment.

NHS secondees If you are employed by the NHS and are seconded (transferred temporarily) onto a health care course, you are not usually eligible for bursaries or DSAs from the NHS. However, you can receive DSAs from us if you meet the eligibility conditions.

Bene�ts Most full-time students are not eligible to receive income-related bene�ts such as Income Support or Housing Bene�t. However certain groups (including single parents, student couples with dependent children and some disabled students) may be eligible for income-related bene�ts while they are studying. Your local Jobs and Bene�ts office, Social Security office or Housing Executive office will take account of most of any Maintenance Loan (and some student grants) that you are entitled to. If you receive the Special Support Grant this will not be taken into account.

Your local Jobs and Bene�ts office, Social Security office or Housing Executive office will be able to provide more advice on bene�t entitlement.

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Summary – what this section is aboutSummary – what this section is about

This section tells you how and when to apply for DSAs, who you should return your application form to and how to get a needs assessment.

Full time undergraduate students

Step 1 Make sure you apply for your maintenance and tuition fee loans, bursaries and other grants before 7 April 2017. You can apply online or download a paper application form from www.student� nanceni.co.uk

There is no deadline for applying for DSAs but the sooner you apply, the greater the chance of having everything you need in place at the start of your course.

When you are applying for student � nance, the application form asks if you want to apply for DSAs. If you have stated on the application form for student � nance that you want to apply for DSAs, your Student Finance NI office will send you a separate Disabled Students’ Allowances application form for you to provide information about your disability, mental-health condition, or speci� c learning difficulty. If you indicate on your online applicationthat you want to apply for DSAs, you willbe prompted to print off the DSA slim application form.

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Student Finance NI offices each have a named officer who deals with applications for DSAs (See page 25 for contact details). You may contact the DSA Officer before you send in your application as they will be able to offer advice and give guidance on the DSA process.

Important: You must return your form to your Student Finance NI office with evidence of your disability, mental-health condition or speci�c learning difficulty (see ‘How do I show that I am eligible?’ on page 9).

If you are applying for DSAs only, you can download the full DSA1 application form at www.student�nanceni.co.uk. You can also get copies from your Student Finance NI office or by phoning our publication line on 0141 243 3686. You can get versions in large print, in Braille and on audio by phoning our publication line.

Step 2 Your Student Finance NI office will assess your application and send you a letter to let you know if you are eligible for DSAs. If you are eligible for DSAs your Student Finance NI office will ask you to have a needs assessment carried out so that the help you need on your course can be identi�ed.

The needs assessment will be carried out at an independent assessment centre by a person with specialist experience, or at a centre within your university or college. It can be arranged well before the start of term, and even before you have a con�rmed place at university or college. However, you should not arrange for a DSA needs assessment until your Student Finance NI office agree for you to do so.

Step 3 After you attend a needs assessment you will receive a report which identi� es the types of equipment and other support you will need, how much it will cost and where to get it from. The report will also identify any training you might need to make best use of the equipment recommended.

Step 4 Your Student Finance NI office will send you a letter to tell you whether any equipment and other support that has been recommended in your Needs Assessment Report can be paid for from DSAs. You can then order the equipment direct from the supplier.

Step 5If you apply for DSAs along with your main application for student � nance, you won’t have to re-apply for DSAs for each year of your course as long as you state on your main application that you want to continue receiving them. Postgraduate, part-time and DSA only students must apply each year.

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Part-time and postgraduate students

If you are a part-time undergraduate student or a postgraduate student and want to apply for DSAs, you should fill in the Disabled Students’ Allowances application form and ask your institution to complete the relevant section.

You can download the form from our website at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk or get one by phoning our publication line on 0141 243 3686.

You can get versions in large print, in Braille and on audio by phoning our publication line. You should then follow steps 2 – 4 as detailed on pages 21 – 22.

You can get extra copies of this guide and the following student � nance guides by:

• visiting the Student Finance NI website at:www.student� nanceni.co.uk and downloading a copy; or

• calling our Publication Line on 0141 243 3686.

You can also get copies in Braille, on audio and in large print.

1 Information for full-time students – Download ‘Full time 2017/18 - A guide to Financial Support for Full Time Students in Higher Education.’

2 Information for part-time students – Download ‘Part Time 2017/18 - A guide to Financial Support for Part Time Students in Higher Education.’ (available summer 2017)

3 Information for students with children or adult dependants– Download ‘Childcare 2017/18 - Childcare Grant and other Support for Full Time Student Parents in Higher Education.’

4 Information about � nancial entitlement for students– Download ‘How you are Paid 2017/18 - Higher Education Student Finance - Entitlement to Support and Payment.

5 Information about student loans– Download ‘Terms and Conditions 2017/18 - Student Loans - A guide to terms and conditions.’

6 Full DSA1 form 2017/18 – for students wishing to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances only.

7 Slimline DSA1 form 2017/18 – for students who have completed, or are in the middle, of completing an application for student � nance and also want to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances.

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Kathleen Lunn (Mrs)DSA Officer Student Finance NI,40 Academy Street,Belfast, BT1 2NQTel: 028 90 564238Fax: 028 90 331714 E-mail: dsa.officer-belfast@eani.org.uk

Deborah Gamble (Mrs)DSA OfficerStudent Finance NI,Ballee Centre,Ballee Road West,Ballymena, BT42 2HSTel: 028 25 661385E-mail: dsa.officer-ballymena@eani.org.uk

Judith Shivers (Mrs)DSA OfficerStudent Finance NI,Grahamsbridge Road,Dundonald BT16 2HSTel: 028 90 566307Fax: 028 90 566308E-mail: dsa.officer-dundonald@eani.org.uk

Janet McNally (Mrs)DSA OfficerStudent Finance NI,3 Charlemont Place, The Mall, Armagh, BT61 9AXTel: 028 37 512497E-mail: dsa.officer-armagh@eani.org.uk

Cathy Coyle (Miss)DSA OfficerStudent Finance NI,1 Hospital Road, Omagh,Co Tyrone BT79 0AWTel: 028 82 411235Fax: 028 82 411233E-mail: dsa.officer-omagh@eani.org.uk

Equality Commission for Northern IrelandEquality House,7 – 9 Shaftesbury Square,Belfast, BT2 7DPTel: 028 90 500 600Textphone: 028 90 500 589Fax: 028 90 248 687Website: www.equalityni.orgE-mail: information@equalityni.org

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You can download more copies of this guide online at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

You can order forms and guides in braille, large print or audio by emailing your name, address, customer reference number along with what form and format you require to: brailleandlargefonts@slc.co.uk or you can telephone us on 0141 243 3686. Please note: the above email address and telephone number can only deal with requests for alternative formats of forms and guides.

© Crown copyright January 2017

Published by the Department for the Economy

You may copy extracts from this guide for non-commercial or educational purposes as long as you mention the source.

ISBN 978-1-907768-37-8